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Following a remarkable 3-0 victory against Liverpool in the Champions League semifinals last week Wednesday - courtesy of a Luis Suarez poacher and a Lionel Messi brace - Catalan giants, FC Barcelona have all eyes on them as we move closer to the end of the campaign.
It has been another fantastic season for the Blaugrana, who are looking forward to building upon the domestic success they enjoyed last year.
Having already wrapped up the La Liga title, qualifying for the Copa Del Rey final as well as having one leg in the Champions League final, Ernesto Valverde's men are well on course to end the season with a fantastic treble.
Below, we highlight 5 factors that have acted as the driving force behind their push for the three trophies this term.
#5 Solid defense
A club well known for its attacking prowess and possession-based system, Barcelona have added a new dimension to their game under Ernesto Valverde, with the Blaugrana now assembling one of the best backlines in Europe as they continue to impress in both offense and defense.
The club had the second best defensive record in the La Liga last term conceding just 29 goals in 38 matches, behind only Atletico Madrid who conceded 22 goals and they have picked up from where they stopped last season, with their defensive strength helping them in their treble chase this term.
Their back-line, made up of Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet, Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto has been unbeatable this season, keeping 16 clean sheets in 36 La Liga appearances. They have also conceded just one goal in the Champions League knockout stage this term and just 6 throughout the tournament so far.
#4 Balanced midfield
The departure of Xavi Hernandez hurt Barca for a couple of years while Andres Iniesta's heartfelt farewell last season also posed huge threats to the future of the club's midfield.
However, the Blaugrana have been able to deal with these departures efficiently - thanks in no small part to the rise of Brazilian prodigy Arthur Melo - as well as the rejuvenation of midfield pair, Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic.
Utilizing these three players, Barca have been able to dominate games with ease this season, with their combination of decent passes reminding us of the old days under Pep Guardiola.
Moreover, Arturo Vidal has also added a new dimension to the Catalans in the center of the park, with his physicality and aggressiveness helping the club immensely, especially in the Champions League where Barca's priority lies as they move on with their treble ambitions.
#3 Squad depth
Having suffered from fatigue and fitness issues at the decisive phases of the past few seasons and being punished for it, Barcelona realized that they had to strengthen their squad to compete at the very top and they pulled a number of fantastic deals last summer.
The likes of Clement Lenglet, Arthur Melo and Arturo Vidal were lured to the Nou Camp and they've all played significant roles and become key figures of the squad alongside players like Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembele and Nelson Semedo. The Blaugrana also have the likes of Malcom and Carles Alena to provide quality support from the bench while Barca's winter businesses also mean that there is more to their squad than meets the eye.
The Catalans have a lot of weapons in their armoury, making it possible to grant rest to certain key players at necessary moments. For the first time in as many years, the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic, Jordi Alba and Gerard Pique are all looking fresh at the business end of the campaign and that spells nothing but danger for their rivals.
#2 Determination
Hardwork and determination yield results, just as we have witnessed with Barcelona this season, with Los Blaugrana now in pole position to add both the Champions League and the Copa Del Rey trophy to their cabinet and complete a historic treble.
After seeing their treble hopes crash following their 3-0 defeat at the hands of Roma last season, the Blaugrana returned brilliantly this term, with the determination to put their nightmares behind them and make history once again.
With their efforts, they've already won the La Liga title and made it into the Copa Del Rey final where they will face Valencia on May 25. With their 3-0 defeat of Liverpool last week, they also have one leg in the Champions League final and they are already the favourites to go home with the coveted trophy come the end of the term.
#1 Lionel Messi
There cannot be a stronger factor behind Barcelona's treble push this season than the man who continues to force many to rate him as the greatest player of all time with his unmatchable performances.
It has been another fantastic year for Lionel Messi this season, with his 34 goals and 15 assists having helped the Blaugrana to claim their 26th La Liga title recently while his 12 goals and 3 assists in the Champions League has also been nothing short of brilliant. Currently playing in a league of his own, the Argentine leads all of Europe for both goals and assists this term.
Barca have ridden on his brilliance all season and the Argentine has never failed to impress, rising up at the vital moments to produce that magical spark his team needs to keep their march towards the treble.
